Lab of Pesticide Immunochemistry and Rapid Detection Technology was founded in 1998, mainly working on the development of techniques for rapid detection of pesticide residues in food and agricultural products. It possesses an integrated R & D system of immunoassays for small molecules, including hapten design and synthesis, antibody production and characterization, assay development and industrialization. Test methods involve ELISA, gold immunochromatographic assay, chemiluminescence / fluorescence immunoassay, immunochip assays, surface plasmon resonance immunoassay and so on. Additionally, researches on mechanism of molecular recognition between antibodies and small molecules are investigated, based on recombinant antibody engineering and computer modeling for antibody structure and molecule docking.
To date, more than 15 research programs have been presided, supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, National “863” High-tech R&D Project of China, Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest, and so on. Around 60 articles on pesticide immunoassays have been published in Chinese and international journals, and 15 national invention patents have been authorized. More than 10 kinds of immuno-tests have been developed for rapid detection of pesticide residue, mainly targeted to organophosphorus, pyrethroid, neonicotinoid and carbamate insecticides.